Cubans in Japan: only Viciedo and Leonys played this Saturday

Two people from Villa Clara with experience in the MLB,Dayan Viciedo and Leonys Martín, were the only Cubans who took to the ring on Saturday in the Japanese Professional League.

Viciedo, who the day before had contributed decisively to the Chunichi Dragons' victory over the Tokyo Yakult Swallows by going 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs, failed four times and his squad suffered the first setback of the championship.

Meanwhile, Martín recorded a performance identical to his debut, going 1-for-3 with a walk as the right fielder and fifth hitter for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

The remaining Cubans who already saw action, pitchers from Pinar del Río Liván Moinelo (Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) and Raidel Martínez (Dragons), rested this Saturday. For his part, Onelki García has not yet debuted with the Hanshin Tigers.

As is known, the premieres ofYurisbel Gracial and Alfredo Despaigne – important figures in the Hawks attack – have been postponed indefinitely, since they remain in Cuba until the country reopens its borders.

The president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, Higinio Vélez, has explained to theOfficial siteJit that both players will make the trip as soon as the conditions for it are created.

“We have informed the Softbank Halcones team that Despaigne and Gracial have been medically discharged, have trained to the best of their ability and are willing to leave as soon as possible. However, that cannot happen until the borders are reopened and an appropriate and safe travel route can be identified,” he said.

At the time of the COVID-19 epidemic, both Despaigne and Gracial were on Cuban soil to treat old injuries.

34 years old,Alfredo Despaigne He has been working in the nation of the Rising Sun since 2014, when he arrived there to wear the Marines jersey, and in the previous campaign he hit 36 home runs, drove in 88 runs and posted an offensive line of .259/.355/.520.

As for Gracial (of the same age), he has completed a couple of years in that league and in the past he shined with a slash line of .319/.365/.595, hit 28 home runs and had 68 RBIs.

This year, the Japanese season will hold 120 of the usual 143 games per team, in a schedule from which the All-Star Game and interleague challenges were eliminated. As for the Japan Series, it will begin on November 21.